Dodt Seizes Clubhouse Leads With A Sizzling 63 At Bandar Malaysia Open


Andrew Dodt (AUS)

Kuala Lumpur, 5 March 2020: Australian Andrew Dodt took advantage of a hot start to sign for an opening nine-under-par 63 and grab the clubhouse lead by two shots at the weather-disrupted Bandar Malaysia Open on Thursday.

After two opening birdies, the 34-year-old Dodt added a birdie on the sixth and an eagle-three on seventh to turn in 31. He nailed four more birdies on his way home to take his place atop the leaderboard just before play got suspended at 5.55pm local time due to lightning threats.

Dodt was thrilled to regain his fine form in Malaysia, where he claimed his third Asian Tour victory in Sarawak last August following a two-month injury layoff. He had missed two cuts in three starts on the Asian Tour so far this season.


Naoki Sekito (JPN)

Reigning Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion Naoki Sekito of Japan closed with three consecutive birdies to sit in second place at the US$1 million event, which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Thai duo Phachara Khongwatmai and Pavit Tangkamolprasert returned with matching 66s, thanks to their respective front and back-nine 30s, to share third place with Chinese Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Bjorn Hellgren of Sweden, who came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School two weeks ago.


Mohammad Wafiyuddin (MAS)

Mohammad Wafiyuddin emerged as the best-placed Malaysian after carding a commendable 68 to tie in 13th place at the award-winning Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, which last hosted the storied event in 2008.

A total of 51 players will resume their opening rounds at 7.40am on Friday with the second round slated to start at 7.50am.

The highly acclaimed Bandar Malaysia Open, which boasts a new tagline 'Pride, Passion, Prominence', is the flagship event for the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA). It returns to the Asian Tour schedule this week after a four-year hiatus.


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Flawless Dodt Extends Lead


Andrew Dodt (AUS)

Shah Alam, 6 March 2020: Overnight leader Andrew Dodt of Australia continued his bogey-free run by signing for a second-round four-under-par 68 to stay atop the leaderboard at the weather-disrupted Bandar Malaysia Open on Friday.

Dodt, who opened his campaign with a stunning 63, remained in the driver’s seat after returning with a flawless card highlighted by four birdies for a two-day total of 13-under-par 131 at the highly rated Kota Permai Golf & Country Club.

His overnight two-shot lead, however, was reduced to one by China’s Liu Yanwei, who carded an impressive 65 to take second place in the US$1 million event, which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Play was halted for the second time this week at 4.15pm local time due to lightning threats. It was later abandoned for the day at 6.00pm.

A total of 77 players will resume their second rounds at 7.40am on Saturday with the third round scheduled to start not earlier than 11.30am.

The halfway cut is projected to be at one-under-par 143 with the leading 65 professionals and ties progressing into the next two rounds.

Asian Development Tour graduate Trevor Simsby of the United States marked the lowest round of the day when he fired a solid 64 to trail by two shots in third place with compatriot Jarin Todd, who posted a 66.

Korea’s Charlie Wi, former winner of the Malaysian Open in 2006, soared with an eagle-birdie-birdie finish from the seventh to register a 66. The 48-year-old Wi, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, sits his fifth place on his own on 135.

The highly acclaimed Bandar Malaysia Open, which boasts a new tagline 'Pride, Passion, Prominence', is the flagship event for the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA). It returns to the Asian Tour schedule this week after a four-year hiatus.



Danny Chia (MAS)

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Weather-Hit Bandar Malaysia Open To Be Decided Over 54 Holes


Lo Tien Ming (MAS)

Shah Alam, 7 March 2020: The prestigious Bandar Malaysia Open has been reduced to 54 holes following several weather delays which saw more than 10 hours of play lost throughout the week, officials said Saturday.

The third round of the US$1 million event, which got underway at 12.15pm local time, was suspended for the third time this week due to lightning threats at 2.05pm, just before overnight leader Andrew Dodt of Australia was due to tee off.

With inclement weather expected on Sunday, officials made the decision to shorten the tournament at 4.30pm on Saturday and abandoned play for the day at the same time due to continued lightning activity in the area.

All 74 players, who made the halfway cut set at one-under-par 143, will resume their third and final rounds at 8.30am on Sunday with the last two groups scheduled to tee off at 8.30am and 8.40am respectively.

“The tournament has been affected by several lengthy delays and suspensions due to inclement weather throughout the week," said Fritz Katzengruber, Tournament Director, Asian Tour.
“As a result of the delays and the disruptions that we have suffered, we have taken the decision to reduce the tournament to 54 holes. The decision was made in the best interest of the tournament and our members,” Fritz added.

A total of 77 players had returned to the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club on Saturday morning to complete their second rounds, which resumed only at 8.15am local time due to a 35-minute weather delay.

At the age of 14 years and 308 days, Lo Tien Ming became the second youngest Malaysian after 2017 Order of Merit champion Gavin Green (14 years and 305 days, 2008 Johor Open) to make the halfway cut on the Asian Tour at the Bandar Malaysia Open.

Dodt, who opened his campaign with a stunning 63, continued his bogey-free run when he signed for a four-under-par 68 to stay atop the leaderboard after 36 holes at the weather-disrupted Bandar Malaysia Open.

With a two-day total of 13-under-par 131, Dodt holds a one-shot edge over China’s Liu Yanwei, who had earlier impressed with a second round 65. American duo Jarin Todd and Trevor Simsby shared third place on matching 133s.

Korea’s Charlie Wi, winner of the Malaysian Open in 2006, Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino and Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Wade Ormsby of Australia will all be within striking distance of the coveted title when play resumes on Sunday.


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Simsby Seals Sensational Playoff Victory At Bandar Malaysia Open 2020


Trevor Simsby (USA) - photo credit Winning Matters

Shah Alam, 8 March 2020: American Trevor Simsby picked up his first Asian Tour title after sinking a four-foot birdie putt to emerge triumphant on the second play-off hole against Andrew Dodt of Australia at the weather shortened Bandar Malaysia Open on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Simsby, who earned his 2020 Asian Tour card after capping a commendable season on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) last year, opted for an aggressive style of play in his three trips down the 18th hole which clearly paid off for him at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club.

He went for the green on the par-five, 565-yard hole but found himself in the right rough in regulation play. He then hit his third shot to the green and two-putted for par to sign for a closing two-under-par 70 and a 13-under-par 203 total.

Simsby, who played in the second last group, endured an agonising wait in the clubhouse before countryman Jarin Todd and Australian Andrew Dodt matched his efforts by carding rounds of 70 and 72 respectively in the prestigious US$1 million event.


Jarin Todd (USA) - photo credit Winning Matters

The trio returned to the 18th hole for the sudden-death playoff which saw Todd bowing out after missing a 15-foot birdie putt while Dodt, who led the first two rounds, made his from eight feet and Simsby nailing his from three feet after hitting his lob-wedge from a tough angle.

Simsby and Dodt returned to the 18th tee for the second play-off hole and Simsby found the fairway again after opting to tee off with his driver instead of his three-wood which he used on the first extra hole. His aggressive play proved rewarding as his second shot landed just short of the green.


Andrew Dodt (AUS) - photo credit Winning Matters

Dodt hit his tee shot to the left rough and had to lay up with an iron to the middle of the fairway before hitting his approach to 15 feet, leaving himself a tough putt for birdie. Simsby, on the other hand, chipped up to four feet and eventually won after Dodt missed his putt.

Simsby, a graduate from the University of Washington where he played alongside PGA TOUR champion C.T. Pan of Chinese Taipei, was thrilled to claim his career biggest win yet in only his 12th start on the Asian Tour and first this season at the Malaysian showpiece.


Trevor Simsby (USA) - photo credit Winning Matters

The lanky American, who hails from Carlsbad, California, is playing in only his second year in Asia. He came through the 2019 Qualifying School and plied his trade on both the Asian Tour and the ADT last season.

He finished 84th on the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit to miss out on his playing rights for 2020 but a seventh-place finish on the ADT Merit rankings last season saw him regain his Asian Tour card for 2020.
Simsby will take home a winner’s prize purse of US$180,000 courtesy of his win and move to second place on the latest Order of Merit, where Australian Wade Ormsby extended his lead following a top-10 finish at the National Open of Malaysia.


Amir Nazrin (MAS) - photo credit Winning Matters

Charlie Wi, former winner of the Malaysian Open in 2006, posted a 69 to share fourth place with Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino (69) and Kosuke Hamamoto (68) of Thailand on matching 204s while young guns Amir Nazrin and Shahriffuddin Ariffin emerged as the best Malaysian performers after registering identical 70s to tie in 38th place.


Shahriffuddin Ariffin (MAS) - photo credit Winning Matters

The Bandar Malaysia Open, which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, was reduced to 54 holes by officials on Saturday following several weather delays which saw more than 10 hours of play lost throughout the week.

The highly acclaimed Bandar Malaysia Open, which boasts a new tagline 'Pride, Passion, Prominence', is the flagship event for the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA). It returned to the Asian Tour schedule this week after a four-year hiatus.


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